Auckland schoolboy Mitch Evans had to fight all the way to the final lap of the season to win the Toyota Racing Series title at Taupo today.
Twice during the enthralling 10-lap final race the 15-year-old was forced out of the third place he needed to become the youngest-ever winner
of New Zealand's premier single seater tile. He wins $10,000 in prizemoney and a European test drive opportunity.
His arch rival, Earl Bamber of Wanganui, was leading the race and on the verge of snatching the crown until near the end as his teammate Stefan Webling held onto second place.
Bamber slowed down, closing up the leading bunch of five cars to apply further pressure on Evans and the tactic worked twice as Palmerston North's Sam MacNeill twice hustled ahead of Evans.
The Auckland teenager eventually clung onto third place, enough to claim the title by just three points even though Bamber had won six of the series' 15 races. He won the last four, including three this weekend and the recent New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild.
The gap between the two was 34 points before this weekend and they finished 1-2 in the two Taupo races leading up to this afternoon's finale.
"It came close, but full credit to Mitch, such a young guy and he held on without making any mistakes," Bamber, 19, said.
"The race was a hard one to judge and I think he deserves the credit of the title."
Final standings:
1. Mitch Evans (Auckland) 915pts
2. Earl Bamber (Wanganui) 912
3. Andrew Waite (Auckland) 762
4. Sten Pentrus (Estonia) 660
5. Daniel Jilesen (Taumarunui) 643
6. Alastair Wootten (Auckland) 623
7. Stefan Webling (New Plymouth) 606
- NZPA
